15.04.2011: Germany - Finnland 4:2

Euro Hockey Challenge 2011

Ice Rink, Nordhorn (Germany)

(Pentax k-x with Tamron SP AF 17-50mm 2.8 XR Di II LD Asp IF and Sigma AF 50-150mm 2.8 EX DC APO HSM II)

The evening was already ill-omened when the German ice hockey national team faced on 15.04.2011 the Finnish national team during the Euro Hockey Challenge. On the one hand the Finns were the only undefeated team during the Challenge and was also able to win the game against the German on the evening before by 4:2. On the other hand the last victory of a DEB team against the Finns was more than 15 years in the past (it was a 3:2 on 19.04.1995).
But from these starting conditions the Germans were not frightened and already in front of the beginning of the game the 2686 visitors in the sold out Nordhorn ice rink were in a good mood. The guys wearing black were right from the start hardly pressing and in minute 7 it was the Ingolstadt player Christoph Gawlik who was able to use the assist of the Krefeld player Daniel Pietta to score. To not get the Finns starting to play the pressure was kept at a high level afterwards and directly rewarded in minute 10 by the 2:0. Philip Gogulla hammered the puck unsaveable into the corner and directly the next situation after the bully led to the Germans score the 3:0 via Christoph Ullmann.
You are not able to discribe the atmosphere in the hall but nobody expected such a dominant opening. Slowly the Finns got back into the game. Just like Dimitri Pätzold did. The Straubing goalie gave the impression of not being quite reliable in some situations but slowly he was built up by the Finns and getting more reliable.
Right after the first break Uwe Krupps guys continued where they stopped during the first period and so Marcel Müller served his Toronto colleague Korbinian Holzer quite impressively who was able after only 6 seconds in the second period to score the 4:0. The response of the Finns came promptly with a shot of Mäenpää from the blue line which could not be seen by Pätzold and so it was 4:1. Overall the Germans now calmed down and offered more shares in this game to the Finns who were able to use these at the beginning of the third period. Jarko Immonen was successful in minute 41 and could get his team closer to the Germans by scoring the 4:2. But that was the end result after a powerful presentation of the Germans. The only remarkable thing in the last period was the missed penalty shot of Philip Gogulla.
It was a fantastic game with a deserved winner who was celebrated by the completely enthused audience on his lap of honour. Of course a Humba may not be missing before the players could leave the ice. With such a presentation the Germans can look forward to the WC with heads up high.

Score:

Germany - Finnland 4:2 (3:0 / 1:1 / 0:1)

7. / 1:0 / Christoph Gawlik

10. / 2:0 / Philip Gogulla

11. / 3:0 / Christoph Ullmann

21. / 4:0 / Korbinian Holzer

22. / 4:1 / Mikka Mäenpää

41. / 4:2 / Jarko Immonen

Weblinks:

	Deutscher Eishockey-Bund Homepage of the German icehockey organisation: Deutscher Eishockey-Bund.
	Suomen Jääkiekkoliitto Homepage of the Finnish icehockey organisation: Suomen Jääkiekkoliitto.
	Euro Hockey Challenge Homepage of the icehockey Euro Hockey Challenge.
	Ice Rink Nordhorn Homepage of the Ice Rink at Nordhorn (Germany).